Cross Country

All - Baltimore City / County

High Schools

November 19, 2003

BOYS RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Tristram Thomas

McDonogh

Thomas turned a second into first. Not only did the junior capture his second consecutive Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championship in 16 minutes, 40 seconds, but he also became the conference's first repeat winner since the MIAA was formed in 1995.

Thomas, the city/county Runner of the Year last season, was a juggernaut in area meets, winning three of the four major invitationals in which he competed. Thomas opened the year by winning the Knights Invite in 16:03.

After placing third in 16:23 at the Meade Autumn Classic, Thomas picked up back-to-back victories in the Division I race at the Georgetown Prep Classic (16:44.85) and the large schools race at the DC-Baltimore Metropolitan Area Private Schools Invitational (16:00.39). With Thomas leading the way, McDonogh finished second at the MIAA championships.

BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR

Jose Albornoz

Loyola

Albornoz has been a witness to some amazing runs in his 16 years with the Dons. On three occasions, Loyola has completed a perfect season in dual meets (1989 and 1991 as members of the Maryland Scholastic Association and 2000 in the MIAA).

In the previous six years, the Dons have brought home three MIAA crowns (1997, 1998 and 2000). And in a repeat of 2000, No. 4 Loyola capped an 8-0 dual-meet record with an MIAA title. The Dons struggled at first, placing eighth at Spiked Shoe, but Albornoz said the varsity lineup began to jell when Dylan Hosford, the team's No. 7 runner, solidified his role in the No. 2 spot.

The proof was a third-place showing at the Harford Invitational and the MIAA championship. Albornoz said some of the credit should go to junior varsity coach Chris Cucuzzella.

BOYS TEAM

Dustin Bauer

Calvert Hall

Bauer capped his final season of cross country with a strong campaign. The Cardinals' No. 2 runner, the senior registered an eighth-place showing at the Mid-Atlantic Classic (17:53) and an 11th-place outing in the large schools race at the DC-Baltimore Metropolitan Area Private Schools Invitational (16:44.53).

Chris Chaulk

Loyola

The Dons went wherever Chaulk would take them. The senior never finished worse than sixth this fall. Chaulk was second at the Holy Child Invitational (17:17), fifth at the Harford Invitational (16:30.28) and sixth at Spiked Shoe (18:28.00). Chaulk, who won four MIAA dual meets, posted a fifth-place result at the conference championships with a time of 17:07.

Patrick Duffy

Dulaney

Duffy appears to be headed down the same path of success paved by older brother Billy. The junior placed fourth at the Barnhardt Memorial Invitational (17:02.80) and fifth at both the Baltimore County championships (16:52) and the Class 4A North region championships (17:06).

Zachary Friedman

Pikesville

Friedman rose out of obscurity and became a force in Baltimore County. The sophomore overcame some early stumbles to collect five straight top 15 outings. He was sixth at the county championships (17:01), third at the Class 2A North region meet (17:23) and seventh at the state championships (17:56).

Eric Graves

Catonsville

Graves did not have a bad meet all season, scoring ninth or better in four invitationals. The senior finished ninth at the Barnhardt Memorial Invitational (17:32.70), fourth at the Baltimore County championships (16:45) and second at the Class 3A North region meet (16:21.66).

Jason Jura

Dulaney

The No. 8 Lions collected their fourth straight Baltimore County crown courtesy of Jura, the team's No. 1 runner and an All-City/County selection for the second year in a row. The senior won the county's individual title (16:29), placed second at the Barnhardt Memorial Invitational (16:52.80) and was third at the region meet (16:52).

Brandon Lynch

Mervo

Lynch returned to familiar ground this season. After winning the Baltimore City championship as a sophomore, Lynch capped his senior year by collecting the title again in 17:20. He followed that performance by beating rivals from No. 3 Bel Air and powerhouse C. Milton Wright to win the Class 3A North region meet in 16:05.86.

Travis Knox

Dulaney

Opponents eager to test Jura usually had to pass Knox first. The senior was a relentless No. 2 runner for the Lions, who scored 15th or better in four major meets. Knox was second at the region meet (16:48) and third at both the county championships (16:39) and the Barnhardt Memorial Invitational (16:53.50).

Mike Nasuta

Calvert Hall

Nasuta was the undisputed leader for the Cardinals. The senior won five of eight dual meets and never strayed from the top 15 in major meets. Nasuta posted a fourth-place showing at the Mid-Atlantic Classic (17:25). Nasuta was second at the MIAA championships (16:54).

Erik Silwick

Archbishop Curley

A bumpy start didn't hinder Silwick's rise as a cross country runner. After finishing 31st at the Peter Geraghty Invitational, the senior did not fall out of the top 10 the rest of the year. Silwick forged identical eighth-place outings at the Knights Invite (16:51) and the Meade Autumn Classic (16:51).